About

$27,357

pledged of $15,000 goal

368

backers

Update 8/16/15

Great news! We've added a new reward. Donate $250 or higher and you will be sent this limited edition Temple of Promise Medallion (see photo). Intricately hand-crafted by master jeweler Tzipora Hoynik out of hand-poured metal with a wooden inlaid, as well as bas-relief, tree carved from salvaged Temple wood scraps by Monica Wu. This 2 inch in diameter, 1.7 ounce collectible is signed and numbered. Only 100 were made in the first run and they are all gone but we are making an additional 25 for Art for Trees. LAST CHANCE – to own this treasure so please act fast by making a donation – or increasing the donation you already made.

Temple of Promise Tree Medallion

Update 8/15/15

Our trucks have left, our warehouse build site in Alameda has been emptied, we've got about 50 people on playa to start building. This is an exciting day. We will post pictures as they come in from playa.

And to answer the question on everyone's mind - Do you still need more money? Well, there's always a need for just a little bit more (the two extra trucks we had to rent, the tools to build on playa, the expense of running a camp on playa for two build weeks). We welcome any donations.

Thank you,

Dreamers Guild

Update 8/6/15

Thank you generous donors! We hit our goal! But alas, this project requires much more than the $15000 we sought in the campaign. Help us get to $20,000 before we leave for playa so we can come home dusty and not in debt?

The Temple of Promise Altar Grove

Trees stand as symbols for many aspects of life; strength, breath, beauty, comfort, longevity, the list goes on. This year’s Temple for Burning Man will be the first to incorporate the solace that can only be found in an intimate grove of trees. Ranging from 15 to 17 feet in height these complex organic forms are reminiscent of willow trees. Through the ages, willow trees have symbolized loss, along with the hope of future revival and flexibility to withstand life’s trials. In nature, willows are always found near bodies of fresh water. On playa, our community will be the wellspring that sustains our Grove.

The Grove will stand as the central altar space of the Temple of Promise - three welded steel trees - trees of Remembrance, Reconciliation, and The Unrequited. Throughout the week, citizens of Black Rock City will write their messages to the Temple on strips of cloth and attach them to the branches, foliating our trees with each passing day.

Temple of Promise Grove

These messages will be released to ash on Sunday when the Temple of Promise burns, but the trees will remain. The enduring strength of the steel means that for the first time in Burning Man history, a significant portion of a Temple will live on. Just as a forest is not completely destroyed after a fire, the Temple of Promise Grove will be reborn.

Why We Need Your Help

The Temple is first and foremost a gift to the community from the community. The Burning Man organization provides the event, the Man, and the principles that bring our community together. Together, we provide the art, entertainment, hospitality, human connection, and the sacred space that is the Temple. As participants, we are responsible for finding the financial means to make it real. We know that many of you have a special place in your heart for the Temple and we are asking for your assistance this year in bringing this Temple to Black Rock City.

The cost of the materials and transport of the trees will be approximately $50,000. The skill, dedication, and perseverance needed to make them a reality is impossible to measure. Lead welder/artist Kevin Byall and his team have been working tirelessly for 3 months and counting at our space in American Steel in Oakland.

Welder artists in action

What will happen after the burn?

After the Temple burns, the grove trees will rise from the ash, standing majestically after the structure is released. Once Black Rock City is returned to the dust, these trees will need a permanent home. Acquirable individually or together, please contact matt@templeofpromise.org for more information.

Our Artist:

Kevin Byall is an award winning sculptor and model maker working in steel, wood, stone, and computer graphics. Whether working in traditional media or exploring new material, his art reveals balance in flow and form, beckoning to be touched.
Some of his work is sublimely humorous, but he always seeks to explore unusual perspectives of ordinary objects, implementing radical approaches in texture and size relationships.

Byall is no stranger to large art projects. He worked as Lead Artist and Designer in conjunction with Karen Cusalito’s Infinitarium installation which led to the creation of a 2 ton metal dandelion sculpture with fire effects. He said of the experience: “[It] allowed me to further explore my fascination with scale and work at an even larger level. You really are operating at another level when cranes and other heavy machinery are vital to the process. It is both invigorating and humbling.”
Examples of his work can be seen at https://stopby.see.me.

Donation Rewards:

Temple of Promise Insignia Sticker

Temple of Promise T-Shirt

Promise Grove Tree Bracelet

Proof-of-concept tree

Scale Model of the Temple of Promise

Risks and challenges

We are completing the work on the trees. Our biggest challenge is closing our budget shortfall so we can bring them to playa.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 90 or more
About US$ 90

At this level, receive a beautiful, large-format giclee print of the Grove trees after the Temple Burns, suitable for hanging. Shot and signed by Burning Man photographer Leori Gill. Visit her album of photos from Burning Man 2014 for examples of her work: http://tinyurl.com/nu3mbtb

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 250 or more
About US$ 250

We've included this one-of-a-kind art jewelry, hand-poured metal inlaid with wood from the Temple itself. Intricately hand-crafted by master jeweler Tzipora Hoynik using a rare and unique technique. Each piece is signed and numbered.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 500 or more
About US$ 500

As a special thank you, we’ve taken the original model of the trees and created poured aluminum sculptures as a permanent reminder of this year’s Temple Grove. Each sand-cast piece stands 51/2 inches and will be mounted on a wooden base.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 2,500 or more
About US$ 2,500

For our Temple Patrons, our temple builders will create a hand-crafted box made of wood from the Temple to hold your small remembrance object. It will be placed in the temple prior to the burn. Each box will be laser etched with the temple insignia and a word or name of your choosing. Our crew members will contact you with more information for this perk.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 5,000 or more
About US$ 5,000

You can own this 5 ft high sculpted tree, originally crafted for proof-of-concept in the style of the larger grove trees. This beautiful sculpture is truly a one-of-a-kind piece of the Temple of Promise sure to stand the test of time.